ACOM to Present Webinar on Dealing with Clutter in the OfficeUsing Feng Shui PrinciplesMarch 13, 2008
1:00 PM EST
Nothing can cause a person to feel overwhelmed and stuck more than that caused by clutter. If clutter is an issue in the office, a person may find that their focus and productivity seriously decline. Understanding Feng Shui principles, participants will become aware of the importance of placement and the relevance of being intentional. Many will see differences in the office and in how they do their job.

In this webinar, Carole Hyder will not only explain what Feng Shui is and how it works, but also how to put it into use. Offering simple yet potent suggestions, she will give the participant countless ideas on how to make the office a better environment, how to recognize the tell-tale signs that an environment may be having a negative impact, and how
dealing with clutter in the office as well as the home can bring about enormous and unexpected changes in someone’s life.

To learn about the speaker or to sign up for this session,
please visit the ACOM website.

Members can take advantage of a Special Continuing
Education Offer. Download the registration form.

The Faster You Are Going, The Further Ahead You Need To Look!By Cary Mullen, Olympian and Keynote Speaker at the ACOM Annual Conference
As my alarm went off at 7:00am, for the fourth morning in
a row I felt tired and wanted to sleep longer. I just wasn’t
as engaged in my work and felt fatigued. I didn’t know
what was wrong. I’m typically extremely engaged and
excited, not to mention that I had been reaching my goals;
yet, it felt as though something was missing. I wasn’t
feeling as excited about what I was doing or about where I
was going, at least not as excited as I knew I could be. Yet,
I couldn’t put my finger on what was missing. Click here for
full article.

Low-cost Tactics to Boost RetentionBy: Competitive Advantage E-Zine
High turnover combined with a tight job market means that holding on to your talented staffers is a priority. Use these strategies:

• Include them. Let them suggest ideas for operating more efficiently, improving morale and the like. When you implement an idea that came "from the trenches," you generate buy-in.

• Recognize them. Showing appreciation, noticing special effort and complimenting a job well done are no-cost tactics that increase loyalty. Mentioning people's accomplishments in staff meetings or internal communications is another good idea.

• Empower them. Once employees demonstrate competence in their roles, look for ways to expand their roles. Providing variety—and additional learning opportunities—is a great way to keep workers interested in the job. Ultimately, your organization will benefit from having cross-trained, eager and competent workers on board.

10 Tips on Time ManagementBy Linda Francis, Author of Run Your Business So It Doesn’t Run You
Many small businesses find themselves stretched for time in an economy that requires businesses to do more with less to stay competitive. That’s why it’s wise for entrepreneurs to develop good time management habits so that everything that needs to be done, gets done. Here are 10 time management tips to help you work smarter and use your time wisely.

1. Buy a week-at-a-glance appointment book and use it religiously. Write everything that you need to accomplish in this book. This book is your brain!

2. Differentiate between the urgent and the vital. The urgent maybe making a lot of noise to get your attention, but it is rarely vital that it be done right now or at all.

“The vital task rarely needs to be done today. The urgent task calls for instant action. The momentary appeal of these tasks seems irresistible, and they devour our energy. With a sense of loss we recall the vital tasks we pushed aside. We realize that we have become slaves to the tyranny of the urgent.” –Charles Hummel

3. The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

4. Keep track of your time by 15 minute increments for 2 weeks to see how you actually spend your time. Compare this to what you should be or want to be spending your time on. It will give you the motivation to make needed changes.

5. Say “no” to the project, not the person. You cannot do everything everyone asks you to do.

6. Learn how to effectively delegate. This means picking the right person, giving clear directions, setting benchmark and due dates, and then letting them do it.

7. Procrastination has a lot of different causes: fear, boredom, perfectionism, an overwhelming task and unclear goals. Identify the reason behind procrastination, so you are solving the right problem when dealing with it.

8. If you earn $10,000 a year, each minute is worth $.09. If you earn $30,000 a year, each minute is worth. $.26. Use these thoughts to help you prioritize your activities and to determine to whom you should be delegating. Any time you are doing work that someone at a lower wage could be doing, you are losing money.

9. Set goals. They help you prioritize your activities and let you know that you have succeeded.

10. There are 1,440 minutes in a day and 29020 days in an 80 year lifetime. Take control of your time and make this year the year you do what you want.

Share your Experiences
Calling all CSMs! ACOM is recruiting members to submit articles for its newsletters. Not only is this type of information-sharing aspect of ACOM membership important, but authoring an article is also a great way to earn points towards the CMP. What can you write about? Your fellow CSMs love to hear stories from other CSMs on a variety of topics, such as:

How you overcame an emergency or challenge at a meeting

New technology, F&B or creative solutions you incorporated into a program

Suggestions for better communication with planners

New Marketing tactics your city or venue has developed

You name it! And your fellow CSMs would probably love to read about it.

If you are interested in doing this, email Lynn McCullough, info@acomonline.org, and we’ll plan it for a future issue.

Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton Hotels Go Smoke-Free
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotel brands will implement a smoke-free policy at more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton have begun converting all smoking guestrooms to non-smoking in preparation for the new policy. In addition, all public areas will also be 100% smoke-free*.

Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotels decision to go smoke-free reflects both brands' commitment to providing guests with a clean, comfortable and healthy stay. The new policy also follows in the footsteps of their sister brand, Westin, who became the first hotel chain to go smoke-free in January 2006 when the brand introduced the policy across all hotels in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean. Due to the overwhelming feedback from guests Westin hotels in Australia, Fiji, and Scotland have also gone smoke-free.

To prepare for the new policy approximately 8,000 smoking rooms will undergo an extensive cleaning process. This includes deep cleaning all soft goods, and treating all hard surfaces, walls and carpets to eliminate allergens, replacing air filters and deep cleaning all air conditioning units.

"We are committed to the health and quality of life of our guests and associates and that includes providing a clean, smoke-free environment," said Hoyt Harper II, Senior Vice President for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Four Points by Sheraton. "Our core customers are road warriors who we know endure a rigorous travel schedule. At Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton we want to provide a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that is healthy."

All Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotels and resorts in the U.S., Caribbean and Canada will offer a designated outdoor area for guests who smoke.

Melinda Burnett, CMP
ACOM’s Melinda Burnett, CMP is taking on new endeavors. Melinda has moved from Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex / Sheraton to Trussville Civic Center as the Event Manager. She is an active member in ACOM and currently serves on the Board of Directors.